fillis



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G N. FILLIS.

WATGHMANS TIME RECORDER.

(NoModeL) Patented Mar.6,1883.

INVENTEJR;

WtTNEEsSEE;

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No ModeL) G. N. FI'LLIS. I

WATOHMANS TIME RECORDER.

No.2 73,351. Patented Mar.6,1883.

INVENTIIITT:

Wi'i'NEEEiEEi':

N. PETERS Phulo-Lilhagnpheh Washington, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE N. FILLIS, GE NEW YORK, N. Y.

WATCHMANS TIM E-RECORDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 273,351, dated March 6, 1883.

Application filed September 14, 1881. Renewed November 6, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l. GEORGE N. FILLIS, residing in the city, eounty, and State of New York, have invented an Improved System of Signals for Police and other Watchmen, and apparatus l'or'the same, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to that class of apparatus in which signals may be given from distant points, as on a patrolmans beat to a central station, where a record is or may be made; and the chief object of this invention is to provide such a system of electric circuits with the beats or district of the patrolman and connected to a central station that a timepiece or clock-work will be setin operation by him on reaching his beat by closing the circuit, and will only run or keep in motion sufliciently long for him to reach the other extremity of his circuit, when he must again wind it up, and at the same time indicate on another dial the post at which said winding operation is performed, so that the patrolman must indicate at definite periods his presence at the extreme points or certain intervals of his beat and exhibit it on the dials at the central station; and this invention consists in an improvement in operating time-movements, especially adapted to be used in watchmans time-detectors, and in certain improvements in this class of mechanism, which will he more fully hereinafter described, and then pointed out in the claims.

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of the clock-work and postindicators. Fig. 2 is a plan from above of the clock-work and magnets, and shows a diagram of the circuits and signal-stations.

At A is an index-hand, like the minute-hand of a clock, caused to more over a dial at B by suitable clockwork mechanism, mounted in a frame, 0, in a case, I), which is fastened upon the wall of the station, from which all the watchmen or patrolmen for a certain distance go to their respective posts. This clock-work mechanism'is provided with an escapement, as

at E, to regulate the movement as in a clock; but the main wheel at E is mounted loosely on the shaft, and is provided with a pawl, E taking into the teeth of a ratchet-wheel, E fast on the shaft on which the wheel E turns, so that it can be revolved in one direction freely,

but in the other will engage with the rest of the train interposed between the main wheel E and the escapemeut E. This wheel Eengages with arack at F, which is fastened upon the side of a weight, F, (shown in section in h'ig. 1,) which is arranged to move up and down on a guide at F. Said weight is connected with the armature G of an electro-ma-gnet, H, which is located in the case or frame I), and is in the main circuit connected with the post at K, the nearest post of the beat to the station, and when the said circuit is closed the armature is raised by its attraction to the magnet, and the main wheel la" is re volved to the same distance, and when the connection is broken the weight F then acts to set the train or clock-work in motion, and it will continue to run until the weight descends to the regulating-screw G under the armature, which determines the distance of its descent from the poles of the magnet, and also the length of time that the train will be in operation under the control of the escapement. Consequently,ifthegearingis arranged to require fifteen minutes for the descent of the weight, the index-hand will in that time move from 0 to one-fourth on the dial, and this will be the time required or allowed for the patrolman to reach the other post on his beat, as at L, Fig. 2, and to which the wires from the time-keeper extend, and Where, by pressing on a knob, the circuit is again closed, and the weight upon the armature is again lifted, and the clock-work is again wound up tor another fifteen minutes,to run until he can return to his tirst station; but it is evident that this winding-up action or the lifting of the weight may be performed at the first station, and so continued without the necessity of the patrolman going over his beat or circuit. To prevent such a result, there is arranged within the same case two check-dials, as at M and N, one of which is connected with the lirst post and the other with the second by an electric circuit, as at 0 and O and each of these dials have index hands P and Pon axes which have ratchetwheels Rand R, which are caused to rotate by adjusting-screws U and U in the end of arms V and V, upon which are the armatures \V and W" of electro-magnets H H, which are connected with these circuits, and the parts are so adjusted that when either of the said IOC circuits are closed said pawls will move forward to operate their ra' chet-wheels one tooth, and thereby move forward the index-hands over their dials. Consequently when the patrolman reaches his first station and closes the circuit to start the clock-work he must also close the circuit or" the check-dial, and thereby move it one notch, and thus when the next post is reached and he must rewind the clockwork, he must also move theindex of the second check-dial by closing its circuit, and thus show that the second winding up of the timekeeper was done at the second post, and then must return during that time to the first post on his beat, and when he rewinds the clockwork must close the circuit of the check-dial, and thus move its index to the second figure on its dial, and thus, as he passes from one post to another on his beat, he must close these circuits at their proper times and places,all of which will be indicated on the dials at the station. If, however, any delays occur, by which he cannot reach the posts in the allotted time, then the deficiency will be seen on the time-dial at the station, and the amount, time, or period of such deficiency will be shown by the checkdials, which will indicate to the oificer in charge where the operation of winding was performed, as both check-dials arein the oflice exposed to the said oflicer in charge-as, for example, if the watchman has patrolled his beat four times, the index-hand on the timekeeper will be at l on the dial if the apparatus is arranged to run for fifteen minutes to every time its circuit is closed, and the checkdials willshowthattheirindex-hands have been moved each twonotches; but if the index-hand fails to move the next quarter and the first check-dial fails to show a movement, then the patrolman fails to show that he was at that post at the right timc,and must render his account accordingly. The posts in the different parts of the circuit are to be provided with small boxes to cover the buttons or push-knobs that close the circuit, and these boxes are furnished with keys, so that each patrolman can have control of the apparatus during his watch.

The time-keeping dial in the present case is divided for six hours, which is the amount of time usually required for a watchman to be on his heat; but it may be increased to twelve hours, if required; or the clocleworl; may be arranged to run slower by increasing the resist ance of the escapemcnt.

It is evident that, by the arrangement of separate circuits for the clock and check-dials, should the circuit operating the clock-movement fail to work, the watchman could still register his movements by the check-dials.

it is evident that more than two posts may i be used to a beat or circuit, and also that more than fifteen minutes may be allowed for the circuit of the patrolman, and this may be accomplished by the same apparatus by simply changing the regulating-screw underthe armature that raises the operating-weight.

Instead of an independent eitcuitfrom each post for the check-dials, the wires may be run from post to post, as represented, and then connect from the first to the second.

It is also evident that the organization and arrangement of the devices may be greatly varied without departing from the nature of my invention.

By such a system of circuits and apparatus located in towns and cities where watchmen and patrolmen are employed it must be evident that any absence from their boats or loitering by the way beyond the proper time for them can be easily detected, and that such a system would save the use or necessity of a large force of roundsmen now so necessary, especially in large cities, where the watchmen are so often negligent.

I am aware that it is not new to operate or give motion to the hands of a cloclr by the movement of the armature of an electro-mag" net moving in substantially the same period of time in opposite directions, and I am also aware that it is not new to operate a recording device at a distance from the recorder, and I therefore make no claim to these features, broadly.

\Vhat I claim as new isl. The combinatioinin awatchmans time-dctector, of a dial and electrically-actuated timemovement and a series of two or more electrically-operated check-dials orindicators, constructed and arranged to point out the number of times the armature of the clock-movement has been energized, both the time-movement and the series ot check-dials being; in the Same case, all substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a watchmans timedetector, ofan electrically-actuated time-movement operated by one circuit, a series of two or more electric check-dials operated by separate and independent circuits, and constructed and arranged to point out the number of times the magnet operating the clock-movement has been energized, both the clock-n1ovement and the series of check-dials being; in the same case, all substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a ti inc-keeping mechanism, ot' an electro-mag'nct and an armature connected to a weight having rack-teeth in direct connection therewith to engage with the timekeeping mechanisnnand operated by an electric circuit, as hereinbefore set forth.

4-. The combination, with a time-keeping mechanism, of an electro-imignet, an electric circuit and means for making and breaking it, an armature connected to a weight having rack-teeth formed thereon to engage with a. wheel in the time-keeping mechanism, and a ratchet and pawl interposed between the said wheel and the pointer and regulator of the time-movement, whereby the weight moves rapidly and free in one direction and slowly in the other, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a time-movement having a fixed dial and pointer to indicate time, of one or more check-dials, having pointers arranged and. operated independently of the IIS time-movement, and constructed and arranged to indicate the number of times the device that impels the clock-movement has been operated, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with an electrically-actuated time-movement, of one or more registering devices whose pointers move independently of the action of the time-movement and indicate the number of times the armature operating the time-movement is attracted by the magnet, substantially as described.

7. The combination ofa time-movement set. in motion by the movements of an armature of an electro -magnet with check dials or counting devices whose pointers indicate the number of times the armature has been atattracted, an electric circuit for each of said counting devices, and circuit-breakingdevices, arranged at as many different and distant stations as there are check-dials, substantially as described.

8. The combination of a time-keeping mechanism operated by an electric circuit, and two or more check-dials or indicators operated by independent electric circuits, as herein set forth. a

9. The combination of a time-keeping mechanism organized to run for certain definite or predetermined intervals or periods ot'timefrom an electric circuit, with an electro-ma-g'net and two or more indicators or check-dials operated by a second circuit, as hereinbei'ore set forth.

10. The combination, with the wheels of a time-movement and an electromagnet, of the weight F, provided with teeth engaging with one of said wheels, and carrying an armature, Gr, to be operated by said magnet. and a guiderod, F fixed to the frame, whereby the teeth of the rack are kept in mesh with the gearing and the armature in the proper position to be attracted by the magnet, substantially as described.

11. A clock-movement provided with a dial and pointer, an electric circuit, D, an electromagnet, H, its armature G, and a weight, F, in combination with a check-dial, M, the electric circuit 0, the electric magnet H, and its armature, intermediate connections, substantially as described, between the armature and the pointer P of the check-dial, and a circuitbreaker post, K, arranged at a distant station and both circuits beingconnected tothe saidcircuit-breaker post. whereby the time-movement is actuated and the pointer ot' the check-dial moved by different circuits from the same post, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE N. FILLIS.

Witnesses:

EUGENE N. ELIOT, BoYD ELIOT. 

